Vitalii O. Lebediev

Soldier Vitaliy Lebediev died on March 8, 2024 near the village of Serhiivka in the Donetsk region. While carrying out a combat mission to redeploy military equipment and S-300 air defense systems, he received fatal injuries as a result of enemy ballistic missile shelling. A month before this, the defender turned 41 years old. Vitaliy was born in Dnipro. He graduated from school No. 123 and a railway technical school. He went on conscript service in the army, serving in the missile troops. Then he worked as a driver and a salesman in a construction store. After that, he started working in construction with his father. He trained as a tile specialist, participated in seminars, and received diplomas. He became a highly skilled specialist and worked on large construction projects. He was also passionate about technology and fishing. In May 2022, he joined the ranks of the defenders. He served in the 138th Dnipro Air Defense Missile Brigade of the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. He held the position of S-300 air defense system operator. He also fought in air defense reconnaissance. The warrior was awarded a number of decorations, including the "Crystal Patriot" (for success in training at a NATO base in Germany), "War Veteran", "For Bravery", "Combat Cross", and the Order of Courage III degree (posthumously). Vitaliy was buried with full military honors at the Krasnopilskyi cemetery in Dnipro. He is survived by his parents, two younger sisters, wife, and two adopted children. In honor of Vitaliy and his comrades, the military unit installed a memorial on its territory.